Paul Scholes criticises two Man United signings, it is Erik ten Hag’s biggest weakness

Former Manchester United star Paul Scholes has claimed two of Erik ten Hag’s signings have failed to improve the team.

Scholes, who was a guest on the latest episode of the Stick to Football podcast, discussed the tendency of Premier League sides to play out from the back.

Pointing out how it can be difficult to successfully do, Scholes stated that he believes the signings of Matthijs de Ligt and Andere Onana have not helped United succeed in their efforts.

“When Pep [Guardiola] first started doing it, you thought ‘Wow, that’s brilliant’ and he’ll still do it now, of course, he will,” Scholes told his fellow panelists.

“I think [Mikel] Arteta’s Arsenal are good at it but the players have got to be good enough to actually do it. 

“I think Ten Hag actually wants to do it a bit with bringing that keeper [Onana] in and De Ligt, but they’re still not good enough at doing it and they end up just booting it anyway.”

Ten Hag’s Dutch signing problem

Both De Ligt and Andre Onana played under Ten Hag at Ajax, something that is the case for five of the players signed by the Dutchman for United.

In addition, several of his signings such as Mason Mount, Tyrell Malacia and Sofyan Amrabat played in the Eredivisie during Ten Hag’s time managing in the league.

Ten Hag’s reliance on signing ex-Ajax and Eredivisie players has seen him heavily criticised, with it seen as a weakness by some. Earlier this week, former Ajax captain Rafael van der Vaart said the following to The Sun:

“I think, he’s been there a few years and really spent a lot of money for his own players, which I don’t really like.

“When you as a coach, you bring a lot of Dutch people in or players, I am not the biggest fan of that because when you lose a few times then the pressure is even higher.”

Permanently or on loan, Ten Hag has signed twelve players who are either Dutch or have played in the first division.

His Manchester United side have started this season with three points from a possible nine in the Premier League. They will travel to nineteenth-placed Southampton on Saturday for their next league game.

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